NAVEEN SHOULD PLAY THE KING

Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha

“Naveen should play the king and not the king maker” a wish shared by millions of Odia people. Arun Maira, the member of Planning Commission of India recently said in a memorial lecture at Bhubaneswar “this land has the potential to change India and the World”. He must have good reason to say so. With a withering UPA and shrinking NDA; the Third Front Idea looks very promising once again. But, without a cohesive organization; Third Front, as an alternative could be worse than the Problem as political history of last fifty years witness to countless failures on this score. Therefore, Regional Satraps should do well not to wait and watch for the election results of 2013-14 to cobble together a Third Political Alternative for this vast Nation as that attempt would be fraught with danger as conflict of interest of diverse political formation could be its undoing. It is said “power unites Congress Men while divides Non-Congress Opposition”; therefore, if not Ideological Cohesion, at least the Third Front should be given shape on the basis of one Goal and a set of common programs for the Nation on which a broad consensus could be built. India is a young Nation and the aspiration of its young people is sky rocketing each passing day; they not only wish to start their life with an SUV, but wish to live and belong to a powerful Nation whose write runs through the World. And, therefore, Third Front could pursue a goal like “Sampurna Bharat and Samparna Bharat” and could even seek a mandate from the people of India on the issue. This goal alone could unite diverse political formations in Third Front with a ‘Fevicol’.

The current electoral arithmetic forecasts a tie between the two National Parties which could create a minor stir in both the National alliance and which piece would go where, depend upon which formation is closer to the seat of power; here, Third Front stands a better chance as it would be without any baggage of Governance at the centre and at the same time it would be a brand new alliance with freshness which may be of liking of electorate. However, the Leadership of Third Front would remain crucial for its success- a leader who should be acceptable to diverse political mosaic of the proposed Third Front and at the same time he should have tacit blessings from the two National Parties. Naveen Patnaik, the three times Chief Minister of Odisha fits the bill very eminently; having led coalition Govt. twice and single handedly decimating the opposition inside the party and outside having scored 100 plus seats in the State Assembly in the third term. He has also very strong base/network in New Delhi and known to people who matters globally. And, this could be the second best opportunity for Odisha to bid for Delhi Durbar. And, why not? If a Bengali can be hosted on the Raisina Hills; then, why not an Odia at the 7 Race Course Road Residence?

E-mail:streben.market@gmail.com Fax: 0674-2725130 Mobile: 9853426657 Address: Flat # 105 Kalpataru Nivas (apartment), Patia, Bhubaneswar Odisha, INDIA-751024 Twitter: @ideasofhope Blog: www.ideasofhopebikash.blogspot.com